An environmental organization advocating for affordable energy is calling out Michigan’s largest utility companies, arguing that their donations to politicians on both sides of the aisle have helped them skirt accountability for the quality of their services.

In its analysis of the most recent campaign finance filings with the state of Michigan, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters noted that Consumers Energy and DTE Energy collectively donated $156,760 to state lawmakers between Jan. 1 and April 20. 

Consumers Energy, which provides electric and gas service to 6.8 million residents across the state’s Lower Peninsula, donated $74,510 to lawmakers’ campaigns. DTE Energy, which provides electric service to 2.3 million customers in southeast Michigan and gas to 1.4 million customers, donated $82,250.

Overall, 60% of Michigan lawmakers, including 21 out of the 30 members serving on the House and Senate energy committees, received donations from the two monopoly utilities, according to the league.

However, these donations only account for the funding publicly reported by the utilities, the League of Conservation Voters noted, and do not include any contributions from “dark money” nonprofits, which allow companies to donate to candidates and causes without publicly disclosing the source of their funding.

“The latest campaign finance figures show yet again that it’s long past time to get utility money out of politics. While DTE and Consumers make billions of dollars in profits, we pay higher and higher energy bills. Our bills are too damn high, and it’s time state leaders step up to rein in corporate utility greed,” Alex Kellogg, the league’s energy accountability manager, said in a statement. “Working Michigan families need a Ratepayer Bill of Rights to protect consumers from rising prices, poor service, unfair outage compensation practices, and excessive utility CEO compensation and perks.”

The League of Conservation Voters has repeatedly called for a ban on political donations by utilities, and is one of a coalition of organizations leading a ballot initiative that would put such a proposal before Michigan voters this fall.

The two companies have been the subject of frequent criticism from environmental organizations, consumer advocacy groups and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, for poor reliability and high energy rates, with both companies requesting rate increases on a near-annual basis in recent years.

In September, lawmakers announced legislation they say would act as a bill of rights for energy ratepayers, ensuring fair compensation when power goes out for long periods of time, tying energy rates to utility performance, barring utility companies from donating to state lawmakers, allowing community members to generate their own energy with rooftop and community solar and providing protections to ensure customers do not pay for CEO bonuses and other perks.

The League of Conservation Voters has also challenged elected officials to refuse campaign contributions from utilities, noting in its Thursday news release that 110 lawmakers and candidates from both sides of the aisle and in each chamber of the Legislature have signed on to that pledge. 

While the utilities give to candidates from both major political parties, Michigan’s energy providers invested heavily in Michigan Republicans in 2022 and 2024. 

Nick Dodge, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters’ senior director of programs, told Michigan Advance that the utilities seemingly try to maximize their influence, tending to give more to the party in power or the party they feel will come into power following the election. 

In 2022, Michigan Republicans held the majority in both the state House and Senate. While Democrats won slim majorities in both chambers, Michigan Republicans regained control of the Michigan House in 2024. 

“At one point, being able to raise lots of money for utilities made folks feel really good about their campaigns,” Dodge said. “But, you know, I would argue that we’re getting into a moment where that could be a liability.”

In an emailed statement, DTE spokesperson Ryan Lowry said the company is in compliance with all laws regarding corporate donations and political contributions.

“The political contributions the company makes are supported by the DTE voluntary employee PAC or DTE shareholders — not from customer revenue,” Lowry said.

Consumers Energy has similarly stressed that its political contributions do not come from customer dollars.

In a statement to Michigan Advance on Friday, Consumers Energy Director of Media Relations Katie Carey spoke out against the ballot effort to bar utilities and government contractors from contributing to political candidates. 

“As written, this ballot petition disenfranchises over 900 state contractors – picking winners and losers in who can and cannot express their freedom of speech through transparent political activity,” Carey said. “We will continue to advocate for our employees who voluntarily contribute to CMS Energy Employees for Better Government, our nonpartisan PAC that has been governed – and powered – by employees since its inception in 1977.”